Dopamine: Major phenolic constituent in banana peel

Banana peel and pulp have been shown to contain biogenic amines, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine levels ranged from 80-560 mg per 100 g in peel and 2.5-10 mg in pulp, even in ripened bananas ready to eat.

Dopamine displays anti-inflammatory activity and protects against intestinal injury by acting as modulator of eicosanoid synthesis.

Dopamine is easily absorbed by the body and is considered to play an important role in the control of Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, synthesized in both central nervous system and the periphery, that exerts its actions upon binding to G protein-coupled receptors. Dopamine receptors are widely expressed in the body and function in both the peripheral and the central nervous systems.

Dopamine is a catecholamine formed by removing a carboxyl group from L-DOPA. It plays an important role in the human brain and body as a neurotransmitter with great impact on our mood, ability to concentrate and emotional stability.

Dopamine can be a precursor in the biosynthesis of other related catecholamines such as norepinephrine and epinephrine. Norepinephrine is synthesized from dopamine by the catalytic action of DA 𝛽-hydroxylase in the presence of L-ascorbic acid and molecular oxygen (O2).
Dopamine: Major phenolic constituent in banana peel

Dopamine in banana

Bananas are popular edible fruits. The major phenolics of banana include catecholamines, naringin and rutin. 

Dopamine and norepinephrine are the predominant catecholamines in banana peel and pulp; phenolics accumulate mainly in the peel.

Researchers found that the dopamine content in banana varied from 80-560 mg/100g in the peel and 2.5-10 mg/100 g in the pulp in Cavendish banana.

Dopamine is a strong, water soluble antioxidant. It has similar antioxidant potency to strong antioxidants such as gallocatechin gallate and AsA.

It is the primary substrate in enzymatic browning. It is further confirmed that dopamine is the only major phenolic constituent in banana peel.

Dopamine displays anti-inflammatory activity and protects against intestinal injury by acting as modulator of eicosanoid synthesis.

Dopamine is easily absorbed by the body and is considered to play an important role in the control of Parkinson’s disease.
Dopamine in banana